The regulation of planting seasons, optimisation of land use, and\nincreased knowledge allow agricultural activities to be planned\nprecisely according to production conditions.<\/p>\n
Wonogiri, Central Java, has entered the dry season, bringing a\nclassic problem for farmers: water scarcity. This decrease in rainfall\nhas narrowed the choice of commodities that can be cultivated,\nparticularly on land with minimal irrigation supply.<\/p>\n
This condition has prompted some farmers to alter their planting\npatterns to ensure their land remains productive. Tobacco has become one\nof the preferred commodities for the dry season because its water\nrequirements are relatively lower compared to other types of crops.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon is occurring in an area where the economy remains\nheavily dependent on the agricultural sector. The Central Bureau of\nStatistics (BPS) recorded that the economy of Wonogiri Regency grew by\n5.67 per cent in 2025, with the value of economic activity reaching\nRp42.82 trillion. The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector\nremains the largest contributor, accounting for 27.36 per cent of the\nregional economy.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the ability of farmers to manage land across various\nseasons is directly related to economic sustainability, both at the\nhousehold and village levels.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts\nthat most of the Wonogiri region began entering the dry season in May\n2026, with the peak expected to occur around August. BMKG also estimates\nthat rainfall during the 2026 dry season in Central Java will generally\nfall within the below-normal to normal category.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, during the second ten-day period of September 2026,\nWonogiri entered an \u2018alert\u2019 status regarding meteorological drought\nwarnings from BMKG Central Java.<\/p>\n
In the midst of this situation, adjusting the planting calendar is\ncrucial for farmers\u2019 economic decisions. Land typically used for rice\nduring the rainy season can be diverted to other commodities that are\nmore tolerant of minimal water supply during the dry season.<\/p>\n
One farmer implementing this pattern is Katino (40), a resident of\nEromoko, Wonogiri. Before becoming a tobacco farmer, Katino worked as a\ntruck driver. His decision to transition into agriculture began when he\nsaw a 70-year-old farmer selling a tobacco harvest at a warehouse.<\/p>\n
That sight opened Katino\u2019s eyes to the fact that agriculture is a\npromising business opportunity. He began cultivating tobacco seriously\nin 2019. In the early stages, Katino learned independently from other\nfarmers before eventually receiving assistance from a supplier company\npartnering with PT HM Sampoerna.<\/p>\n
This assistance covers all stages of cultivation, from seedling\nproduction, land management, fertilisation, and irrigation, to\npost-harvest handling.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the start of planting, there is the seedling process. I was\ntaught the correct way to sow seeds and how to care for the seedlings,\nhow many days or hours they need. I was also taught the basics of\nfertilisation, up to the irrigation process; everything was explained,\u201d\nsaid Katino, who expressed gratitude for the new knowledge gained from\nfield assistants.<\/p>\n
This knowledge has become an important foundation in managing his\nfarming business. He is now accustomed to calculating seed selection,\ndetermining planting times, fertilisation, and water requirements\ntailored to the growth stages of the plants.<\/p>\n
Thanks to his perseverance, Katino\u2019s economic condition has begun to\nimprove since 2023.<\/p>\n
Income from his harvests has enabled him to purchase new paddy fields\nand expand his business scale. Currently, he manages approximately 9,000\nsquare metres of land spread across three locations, has added one\nleased plot, and employs several farm labourers.<\/p>\n
This planting pattern allows his agricultural activities to continue\nacross seasons. During the rainy season, the land is focused on rice\ncultivation, while during the dry season, it is diverted to commodities\nthat are more compatible with water availability.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-farmers-read-the-land-1790082156", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }